TruBlu
TruBlu is a direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service launched in 2022 that delivers true crime and factual documentary content featuring personalities like Chris Hansen to niche crime-investigation enthusiasts across web, mobile, and smart TV platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What TruBlu does
TruBlu is a direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service focused exclusively on true crime and factual documentary content, founded in 2022. The platform distributes programming featuring high-profile crime investigation personalities, most notably Chris Hansen, with flagship series including 'Takedown with Chris Hansen' and 'Police: In The Line Of Fire.' Its content library is built around a horizontal segmentation approach targeting true crime enthusiasts and broader factual documentary viewers as a single persona-led niche audience.
The platform is delivered as a multi-device streaming service accessible via watchtrublu.com and native apps on Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, Fire TV, iOS, and Android. The underlying infrastructure appears to be powered by Vimeo's OTT/VHX platform based on the asset and checkout URLs. Revenue is generated through recurring subscriptions at $4.99/month or $49.99/year, with a 16% effective discount on the annual plan and a gifting option. Marketing is conducted primarily through organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X) and a small community forum, indicating minimal paid acquisition infrastructure at present.
In June 2023, TruBlu acquired American Sheriff Network (ASN), a Phoenix-based law enforcement-themed channel, expanding its content vertical beyond true crime into adjacent law enforcement programming. ASN's production and operations were consolidated in Cleveland, Ohio, making Cleveland the company's operational hub. The company is private, with no disclosed funding, ownership structure, headcount, or revenue figures.
TruBlu firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TruBlu
- Website
- https://watchtrublu.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TruBlu is a direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service launched in 2022 that delivers true crime and factual documentary content featuring personalities like Chris Hansen to niche crime-investigation enthusiasts across web, mobile, and smart TV platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TruBlu industry classification
Industry- Product category
- True Crime Streaming
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Content Curation & Bookmarking/Read-Later Platforms (MPACAKAH)
Keywords
Where TruBlu is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
TruBlu business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Streaming Subscription: Monthly and annual subscription-based streaming service providing unlimited access to all content and future releases. Users pay recurring fees to access the platform's true crime documentary library.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly subscription at $4.99/month |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual subscription at $49.99/year (~$4.17/month) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
TruBlu product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TruBlu is a subscription-based streaming service that offers unlimited access to true crime documentaries, crime investigation programming, and factual crime series. The platform features original content led by investigative personalities such as Chris Hansen and is accessible across mobile devices, smart TVs, streaming sticks, and web browsers via a monthly or annual subscription.
Product overview
TruBlu is a single-platform subscription streaming service focused on true crime and factual documentaries. The core offering is the TruBlu Factual Streaming Network, which provides unlimited access to crime-related programming including flagship series like 'Takedown with Chris Hansen' and 'Police: In The Line Of Fire'. The platform operates on a subscription model ($4.99/month or $49.99/year) and is accessible across multiple devices including smart TVs, mobile devices, and web browsers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TruBlu Streaming Subscription A monthly or annual subscription ($4.99/month or $49.99/year) that provides unlimited streaming access to TruBlu's library of true crime documentaries, crime investigation series, and factual crime content. Available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and web browsers for individual adult consumers.
- Takedown with Chris Hansen
- Police: In The Line Of Fire An original factual series on TruBlu focused on police and law enforcement subject matter within the true crime category.
- American Sheriff Network A factual crime network acquired by TruBlu in June 2023, contributing sheriff and law enforcement programming to the TruBlu subscription library.
Companies that use TruBlu
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
TruBlu technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
TruBlu partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- American Sheriff Network (ASN)coreTruBlu acquired American Sheriff Network, a Phoenix-based law enforcement-themed channel, in June 2023. The acquisition expands TruBlu's content library and subscriber base, with continued production of ASN's programming and operations based in Cleveland, Ohio.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
TruBlu competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- BritBox: Genre-vertical (British) subscription streaming service operated by ITV/BBC. A useful comparable for vertical-DTC subs economics, although focused on a different genre than TruBlu.
- Hallmark Movies Now: Vertical subscription streaming offering from a media brand; mirrors TruBlu's structure (single-genre library, monthly/annual subs, multi-platform apps). Comparable as a vertical sub-streamer.
- Gaia: Vertical subscription streaming service focused on a single genre (yoga/spiritual) using the same playbook as TruBlu (niche content, subscription DTC, multi-device apps). Comparable as a vertical subscription streamer.
Direct peers
- CuriosityStream: Subscription-based factual / documentary streaming service, the closest pure direct peer to TruBlu. Both monetize a 'factual streaming' niche at similar price points and operate as DTC subs rather than bundles.
- Sundance Now: Vertical subscription streaming service for indie/arthouse/crime content operated by AMC Networks; comparable in being a genre-focused subs service on a similar monthly-fee basis.
- MagellanTV: Documentary-focused DTC streaming subscription, including a deep true-crime and investigation vertical. Same business model (low monthly subscription, library of non-fiction) as TruBlu.
- Topic (by First Look Media): Niche international/crime/factual streaming service; comparable to TruBlu in genre and target audience (true crime and investigative programming enthusiasts) and the same subscription streaming model.
Others
- Vimeo OTT (formerly VHX): OTT infrastructure platform that TruBlu is operationally built on (trublu.vhx.tv URLs, imgix VHX asset hosting). Not a competitor but the underlying enabler; comparable as the platform-of-record for many niche DTC streamers like TruBlu.
Broad incumbents
- AMC+: Bundle streaming owned by AMC Networks that includes substantial factual/crime content (e.g., the wider Walking Dead universe, true crime). Operates in the same genre from a much larger parent with broader portfolio.
- Discovery+: Large factual/true-crime streaming service from a major media incumbent with deep content libraries (Investigation Discovery, 48 Hours). The most likely mainstream substitute for TruBlu's content category.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
TruBlu social profiles
Digital presenceTruBlu financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TruBlu leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
TruBlu subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
TruBlu funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TruBlu M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TruBlu
What does TruBlu do?
TruBlu is a subscription-based streaming service that offers unlimited access to true crime documentaries, crime investigation programming, and factual crime series. The platform features original content led by investigative personalities such as Chris Hansen and is accessible across mobile devices, smart TVs, streaming sticks, and web browsers via a monthly or annual subscription.
When was TruBlu founded?
TruBlu was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TruBlu based?
TruBlu is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does TruBlu make money?
One revenue line is on record: streaming Subscription.
Who are TruBlu's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are BritBox, Hallmark Movies Now and Gaia. Direct peers are CuriosityStream, Sundance Now, MagellanTV and Topic (by First Look Media). Vimeo OTT (formerly VHX) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are AMC+ and Discovery+.
Does TruBlu have an API?
No public API is recorded for TruBlu.
What industry is TruBlu in?
TruBlu's product category is True Crime Streaming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACAKAH, Content Curation & Bookmarking/Read-Later Platforms. Its NAICS code is 5162.